Issue link: https://digital.copcomm.com/i/533451
41 B M & T ••• March/April 2015 ••• www.blackmeetingsandtourism.com With more than 30 years of hospitality experience, Steele has spent his entire career with Hyatt Hotels Corporation, serving as general manager of the Grand Hyatt Tampa Bay; the Hyatt Regency Baltimore, Baltimore, Md.; Hyatt Regency Washington, Washington, D.C.; and Hyatt Fairlakes, Fairfax, Va., prior to his current position. Steele is the past chairman of American Hotel & Lodging Association (AH&LA), having held the position of 2007 chairman of the board. An active and long-time sup- porter of AH&LA, Steele has served on var- ious committees and boards, including the Strategic Planning Committee; Multicultural & Diversity Advisory Council; Membership/Sales & Marketing Committee; Credit Card Advisory Council; Financial Management Committee; Lodging Industry Rating Advisory Committee; ADA Task Force; Audit, Certification & Credentials Committee; Engineering & Environment Committee; Human Resources Council; and Loss Prevention Committee. Steele is a graduate of Tennessee State University, Nashville, Tenn., where he received a Bachelor of Science degree. Steele resides in Orlando, Florida with his wife Sheila, and they have three chil- dren, Robert IV, Tiffany and Adam. CALVIN TAYLOR is vice president of Government Relations for the Memphis Convention and Visitors Bureau, where he works closely with state government, city officials and the local hospitality industry in Memphis in enhancing the development and growth of Memphis tourism. In addi- tion he serves as the bureau's director of the Memphis tourism education foundation, which administers the city's official hospi- tality tourism training program. Taylor is co-founder of the Beale street development corporation, the organiza- tion that reintroduced the historic district as a tourist destination. He also worked as publicity director at Southland Racing Corporation, the southeast's largest pari- mutuel waging center. Additionally he is a member of the National Coalition of Black Meeting Planners and is a past chairman of the Tennessee Association of Convention and Visitors Bureaus. Besides being a major player in the state's tourism industry for many years, he has also served the Tennessee Tourism Roundtable (TTR) faithfully as a board member, TTR Government Relations Committee member and chair, and chair of the annual TTR salute to the legislature. Last year he served as chair of TTR after serving as vice-chair during 2010. Taylor was named as the recipient of the 2010 Tennessee Tourism Roundtable Knight of the Roundtable Award, an award given in recognition of an individual for their outstanding contributions of leader- ship, service, and professionalism to the Tennessee tourism industry and for their involvement with and service to the Tennessee tourism. LINDA HAITHCOX TAYLOR has more than 30 years of experience in organi- zational and business management includ- ing diversity research, project creation and implementation, fundraising, public rela- tions, special events management and budg- et development. Her career has the benefit of varied industry experience, as well. Ms. Taylor has worked for and with Fortune 500 cor- porations such as Bristol-Myers; with leading institutions of higher education such as Howard University and Bowie State University; with several African- American owned corporations; with Capitol Hill special interest political groups such as the National Organization of Black County Officials and the National Black Caucus of State Legislators; with the 1992 Clinton and the 2008 & 2012 Obama Presidential Campaigns; with numerous U.S. Congressional and state political campaigns; and with two of America's highly respected African- American organizations: UNCF (The United Negro College Fund); NAACP (National Association for the Advancement of Colored People. During her tenure with the NAACP, Taylor directed the Economic Development Department which included the Fair Share Program with more than 50 agreements with major corporations; the Corporate Advisory Council; the Commerce and Trade Council, and the Economic Reciprocity Initiative which included annual industry reviews on the hotel, telecommunications and other industries. Currently the executive director of the National Policy Alliance which represents the presidents of Black elected officials national organizations, Taylor is responsible for national policy development and advoca- cy, as well as leadership meetings throughout the year with the NPA member organiza- tions and with the White House administra- tion. She also is founder and president of Women Love Sports Too! (WLST) that helps women understand, appreciate and enjoy sports as a career option, business opportunity and as a fan. Taylor holds a B.A. in Public Relations and a M. A. in Organizational Communica- tions. A native of Chicago and an avid sports fan, she has one son and two grand- sons. She is a firm believer in mentoring and volunteering.